PlayStation unveils first wave of games from its MENA Hero Project

PlayStation has announced the first cohort of games emerging from its MENA Hero Project; an initiative designed to spotlight and support game developers across the Middle East and North Africa. This inaugural line-up features four distinctive titles, each showcasing the creativity and cultural flavour of their respective studios.

Red Bandits, developed by Team Agenda in Saudi Arabia, is set in a hyper-capitalist dystopia and casts players as Stutt, a veteran thief with a fragmented past, leading a rebellion against a monopolistic corporate empire. Blending dynamic cover-based combat, evolving heists, and a hideout hub, the game promises fast-paced action paired with a deeply personal narrative.

Enci’s Solution, from UAE-based studio Dark Emerald, is a hand-painted 2.5D narrative platformer that follows Ji’we, a young Aeon who ventures beyond his village to rescue his closest friend. Along the way, he forges an unlikely partnership with Enci, a lost encyclopaedic robot. Featuring over 40 levels, hidden challenges, and techno-dystopian flair, Enci’s Solution blends exploration, puzzles, and storytelling into a striking adventure.

In The Perfect Run, from Tunisian studio Lanterns Studios, players step into the shoes of Quicksave, a time-travelling hero locked in a three-day struggle to save, or destroy, the city of New Rome. With branching storylines, faction choices, time-loop mechanics, and superpowered bosses, the action-adventure RPG invites players to experiment with multiple timelines to find their ultimate ending.

Finally, A Cat’s Manor, developed by Happiest Dark Corner in Bahrain, is a blend of puzzles, rhythm challenges, crafting, and combat. It begins with a mysterious feline protagonist awakening in a spider-infested mansion. With a stitched hand at the end of their tail and no memory of their past, players must explore, solve, and survive while uncovering the unsettling secrets of the family within. Enhanced by 3D audio and PS5 DualSense controller features, the game promises you an atmospheric adventure.

As PlayStation puts it, “We believe that great games can come from anywhere;” the MENA Hero Project is part of the company's ongoing commitment to nurturing new talent in emerging markets. By providing support, resources, and a global platform, Sony aims to help regional studios bring their culturally rooted and innovative ideas to an international audience.

All four titles are set to release on PS5 and PC.